A Bill Proposing Changes To Florida’s Sovereign-immunity Laws Sparks Debate

Florida's sovereign-immunity laws, which limit the liability of government agencies, are being reconsidered by lawmakers. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee approved a bill (HB 569) on Thursday that would modify these laws. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, would raise the caps on how much government agencies can be required to pay in lawsuits from $200,000 to $400,000 for single plaintiffs and from $300,000 to $600,000 for multiple plaintiffs. The caps could be exceeded through a special process known as a "claim bill," but this process is time-consuming and uncertain. The proposal would also lead to annual increases in the caps based on the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation.

McFarland stated that she was motivated to introduce the legislation after hearing about claim bills that "broke my heart." However, some critics, such as Bob Harris, general counsel for the educational consortium, argue that [+]

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The House Civil Justice Subcommittee on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill (HB 569) that would revamp Florida's sovereign-immunity laws, which are designed to limit liability of government agencies.

Excerpt: See here

TL;DR...

A bill has been proposed in Florida to modify the state's sovereign-immunity laws, which limit the liability of government agencies.

• The bill, sponsored by Rep. Fiona McFarland, would double the caps on how much government agencies can be required to pay in lawsuits, from $200,000 to $400,000 for single plaintiffs and from $300,000 to $600,000 for multiple plaintiffs.

• Under the proposal, the caps would increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation.

• The bill's supporters argue that it would allow government agencies to settle lawsuits more quickly and efficiently, without the need for lengthy and uncertain claim-bill processes.

• Opponents of the bill, including Bob Harris, general counsel for the educational consortium, argue that it would lead to higher insurance costs for small school districts, which are already a major expense.

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